ROUND 8 of the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season will be a split round played over two weekends. With everyone having played each other, the teams will return to play their Round 1 opponents. The Sunshine Coast Lightning cemented their top spot position over the weekend, with the West Coast Fever hot on their heels. We preview the entire round of action to come.

NSW Swifts vs. Queensland Firebirds
Saturday, June 19 @3:00pm

With both the Swifts and Firebirds coming off losses, each will be looking to get back on top of their game this week. Going down unexpectedly to the Thunderbirds, the Swifts in particular will want to build themselves back up with a win. When they met in Round 1, the Firebirds only went down by three goals. This time they will not want to let the opportunity slip through their fingers.

After a slower start to the season, Swifts defenders Maddy Turner and Sarah Klau have found a good rhythm over the past few rounds. Up against Romelda Aiken and Gretel Bueta, the defenders will need to keep alert and watch for Bueta’s iconic layup shots and passes. They will also need to be mindful of Tippah Dwan, who is shorter but quite quick, and has a knack for super shots. Firebird’s Kim Ravaillion also appears to be at the top of her game, and will take on Swift’s captain Maddy Proud in the centre, which will be a good matchup to watch.

Likely to go up against either Paige Hadley or Lauren Moore, Firebirds wing attack Jemma Mi Mi will have a good contest this round. Mi Mi’s connections into the ring has been improving each week, and with Lara Dunkley on the bench ready to come on at a moments notice, the Firebirds attack line is looking particularly strong.

GIANTS vs. Adelaide Thunderbirds
Sunday, June 20 @1:00pm

Coming off their third loss in a row, the GIANTS will be wanting to see if they can get some of that momentum back that they started the season with. However, the Thunderbirds come in to the Round 8 match with two wins under their belt, unexpectedly beating the Swifts last weekend. The Thunderbirds are finally starting to find their groove as the GIANTS start to lose it, this could be a close game with some interesting pairings.

Topping the Nissan Net Points last week, GIANTS wing defence Amy Parmenter is a massive threat to the Thunderbirds. Her ability to switch seamlessly from defence to attack, and to read the play in order to rack up the gains and intercepts will keep the Thunderbirds attack on their toes, particularly Maisie Nankivell, who Parmenter will come head-to-head with in the upcoming game. It will be a tough battle between Jamie-Lee Price and Hannah Petty in the centre, while Sam Poolman and Lenize Potgieter are very well matched in the ring.

While Jo Harten and Sophie Dwyer started off the season really strong, the past few weeks they have struggled to find consistency, looking flustered on the court as they have difficulty getting their eye in. Going up against Shamera Sterling and Matilda Garrett, who have been building as a defensive duo all season, Dwyer and Harten will need to be at the top of their game to get on top of their opponents.

Sunshine Coast Lighting vs. Collingwood Magpies
Saturday, June 26 @3:00pm

Their win last week secured Lightning the top spot on the SSN ladder, meaning they are in a very comfortable position going up against the Magpies this week. The Magpies however are on a bit of a role with two wins in the past three weeks, and will be looking to see if they can keep up the momentum against the top side.

Binnian Hunt was a game-changer for the Lightning in their match against the GIANTS last week, coming on into wing attack to give them just that little extra height on the edge of the ring and excellent vision to the shooters. Up against Ash Brazill this week, who has been on fire in wing defence for the Magpies over the last few games, Hunt will have to push hard to keep up that pace against Brazill.

Lightning tried out a new combination in the last quarter of their game against the GIANTS, moving Steph Wood into wing attack, Cara Koenen out into goal attack and bringing on Peace Proscovia into shooter. This allowed Wood to continue what she does best in setting up play and creating space, while Proscovia added a bit more height to the circle, a strong hold, and 100 percent shooting accuracy. This could be helpful against Pies defender Jodi-Ann Ward and Geva Mentor, who have really found their groove together over the last couple of games despite a slow start to the season. Down the other end of the court, Kelsey Browne and Molly Jovic continue to impress with their passes into Shimona Nelson under the ring, but will need to be able to navigate their way through Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni.

West Coast Fever vs. Melbourne Vixens
Sunday, June 27 @1:00pm

With the Vixens still struggling to find their momentum on court, this could turn out to be a very one sided match in Fever’s favour, similar to what spectators saw in their Round 1 clash. West Coast are yet to drop a game this season and do not look like losing with their connections across court incredibly slick.

When the 2020 grand finalists met each other back in the season opener, Kadie-Ann Dehaney was able to give the Vixens some what of a lift with her defensive play, with her injection into the game midway through causing the powerhouse that is Jhaniele Fowler to falter just slightly and forcing her to change her game. Dehaney will need to be able to do this again in order to shut down Fever’s unstoppable attack, especially looking at the connection between Fowler and Verity Charles. Dehaney will be aided out the front by the ever reliable Jo Weston, who will be taking on either Alice Teague-Neeld or Sasha Glasgow. While Teague-Neeld is more of a playmaker, Glasgow is not as quick off the transverse line, but is dangerous whenever she gets the ball inside the ring, and is a particular threat during the power play.

Vixens young wing attack, Hannah Mundy, will have to step against Fever’s Stacey Francis-Bayman in wing defence. While Mundy is still finding her groove playing in the national league, Francis-Bayman is a seasoned defender, quick on her feet with an incredible ability to get the ball. It will be a good matchup to watch Kate Moloney and Jess Anstiss in the centre of the court, while the head-to-head between Mwai Kumwenda and Courtney Bruce will be a huge contest and a spectacle for the crowd.

Photo credit: Suncorp Super Netball